Just last month, Pierce the Veil drummer Mike Fuentes faced allegations from two women accusing him of sexual misconduct, including sexual activities with a minor. While a statement from the band was not initially available at the time of the report, the group has now addressed the accusations, with Fuentes himself offering a statement and revealing that he's planning to step away from the group.

In his statement, Fuentes said that he did not take the allegation lightly and has empathy for anyone who has ever experienced abuse or mistreatment in their lives. He also added that he never intentionally manipulated or abused anyone. As for the group, Fuentes said he did not want the allegation surrounding him to negatively impact the band, so he's decided to take a break and step away with hopes that it will allow the group to continue and that fans can focus on the music. With this move, Pierce the Veil have bowed out of their current tour plans until a replacement for Fuentes is named.

The band also revealed that since the allegation, they've been working on ways to ensure that the Pierce the Veil community is a safe environment and one with access to the tools to deal with a variety of issues. You can read the full statement below.

From the day we started this band, the four of us agreed that we not only wanted to write and play songs together for the rest of our lives, but we also wanted to build a strong community through our music and provide a safe place for ourselves and our fans to express our shared values through creativity, open-mindedness, love and respect. Over the last ten years we have accomplished that and so much more with the help of our incredible fans. The bond that we share in this community is stronger than we could have ever imagined and is truly our pride and joy.
Recently, an allegation was made about Mike from an anonymous source pertaining to events dating back nearly ten years ago. We are taking this allegation seriously and would like to share the steps we are taking in response. Below are a few words from Mike.
“I’m of course aware of the allegation made about me from almost ten years ago, and I cannot begin to describe how difficult and disturbing this entire situation has been for everyone involved. I do not take this allegation lightly and would never downplay it. I have empathy for any human being who has experienced abuse or mistreatment in their lives, and I am inspired to see so many come forward and speak out about it. No one should have to suffer in silence, and I am thankful that the world is finally starting to listen. I also want to assure you that I have never intentionally manipulated or abused anyone in my life. That is not the person I am, how I was raised, or the type of behavior that I condone. I strongly believe in the empowerment of abuse victims, so if I have ever made anyone feel like they are less than equal, I am sincerely sorry.
I love playing music more than anything on earth, and I am constantly humbled by the support of our fans. I do not want the allegation surrounding me to negatively affect the reputation or future of the band, or to break the bond and trust that we have created with our fans over the years. So, I have decided to take a break and step away from my position in the band in hopes that this will allow my band mates and fans to continue focusing on the music and message that Pierce The Veil stands for. Though I am far from perfect, I do have a moral compass and try to stand up for what is right. While away from the band, I will continue to work hard to live my life in that way.”
Since the allegation first surfaced, our band has discussed how we can ensure the PTV community is always a safe environment. We’ve made many efforts over the years to protect our fans, and we can and will do more. We believe in creating spaces where people can seek help for any issues they are struggling with and provide resources and tools to help.
As a band, we are respecting Mike’s decision to take break and step away. Unfortunately, without a core member of the band, we will be respectfully withdrawing from the upcoming U.K. tour with All Time Low. We promise our fans that we will be back again very soon.

We'll keep you up to date as more details about the band's future touring plans are revealed.